ICE Agents Released an Attack Dog on a Man: Report
Democratic Sen. Patty Murray of Washington is calling for the release of Wilmer Toledo-Martinez, an immigrant who she says was mauled last month by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement attack dog in Vancouver, Washington.
According to Murray’s office, Toledo-Martinez is an immigrant with no criminal convictions who came to the United States when he was 15 years old. His wife and three children, aged 2, 3 and 7 respectively, are all American citizens.
On November 14, Toledo-Martinez allegedly knocked on her door to find a federal immigration agent posing as a construction worker, who claimed he had hit her car.
Toledo-Martinez came out and was asked his name. When he turned to collect his insurance and ID, another officer allegedly released the dog, which bit him multiple times, leaving wounds that were later captured in graphic footage provided by Murray. His wife and two youngest children are said to have witnessed what was happening.
In one video, apparently taken moments after the attack, Toledo-Martinez is seen on the ground in handcuffs as an officer with a K9 stands over him. Another officer wearing a fluorescent vest asks Toledo-Martinez his name before putting him in a truck.
On The Don Lemon ShowToledo-Martinez’s attorney, Olia Catala, said her client was denied immediate medical care. He was only taken to the hospital later, she said, after he begged them to do so and heard one of the officers say, “I’m not going to lose my job over this.”
To this day, Toledo-Martinez remains at the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma, Washington, according to Murray.
“This should shock the conscience of all of us,” Murray said in a statement Friday. “I don’t want to live in an America where federal agents can attack dogs on peaceful residents with impunity and without facing consequences.”
“I demand the immediate release of Wilmer from NWIPC,” the statement continued. “He has no criminal convictions, he poses no threat to the community, and he urgently needs proper medical care as ICE is denying him the treatment he needs.”
